how long to give a new saddle before you pitch it?

[Dok-torr]

Maybe you could use the Dolce for the next century and then try the "pretty" one again? For me persistence was worth it:

I have a Fiz'ik Poggio on mine and its gold and red (matches the frame, see?) and I hated it at first. In fact I hated it for several weeks. I persisted because it looked divine and I am not ashamed to say it! It was the first road saddle I had ridden so I didn't really know if it should hurt or not! The biggest difference came when I adjusted the tilt. It only took a few degrees to off-load the front "bits" and once I sussed out sitting my seat-bones on the soft part I was fine.

It did take a few 40 - 50 milers before it got better and now its Purrrfect. I did a century without padded shorts last year! For supreme comfort I love my Pearl Izumi shorts with the thicker pad at the seat-bones and the rim of padding that off-loads the front niceley too - SHweeet.

Love your bike BTW. I drooled and drooled.

[caligurl]

fortunately i have 3 weeks til the next century... so depending on the weather... i can get miles on it.... i keep going back and forth.. change it.. don't change it.. change it.. don't!

hubby has your thinking... it's a completely different and harder saddle... i haven't been riding as many miles as i was... he says i'm just not used to it... he's been right in every other bike advice he has given me (he's my mentor!)

i was able to ride monday... it wasn't gastly sore... but by the end of ride (32 miles) i was getting done.... so we'll see how it feels this weekend... i'm hoping for nice weather so we can do some climbing and a longer ride!

i may try to adjust the tilt.. although i have no issues on the front part.. just right where i'm sitting! it's tilted up a bit cuz i was slipping off.... maybe we'll try to level it back out and see if i'm not slipping and it it alleviates any sit pressure!

[Aint Doody]

Hey, Cali--I got the Jett, too. I have only been able to put about 25 miles on it so far--weather. It's surely the best on the soft tissue so far. I, too, noticed that my sit bones were feeling it more. I hope that it's just because I haven't been riding much. I think if I were you, I'd ride that Dolce for the moment and then build up to the Jett.

[annie]

Cali,

Oh - I hate to be negative! But it sounds like the Jett is NOT the saddle for you. You've given it time - you've given it quite a fair amount of saddle time. Your tush has been put to the test, it seems. I suppose it is possible to fit yourself to the saddle instead of finding one that fits you, but you should not need to do that. Pain is NOT a good thing! There are a good number of saddles out there. There's GOT to be one for you, besides the Dolce, if that one doesn't please you aesthetically. Might take some searching and test riding. I am hoping you are able to find an LBS that allowings such testing. Don't give in too easily. Find something that feels good to you. Good luck!!!!

annie

[caligurl]

hi annie! someone at another forum suggested i try an avatar... it's similar to my jett.. but with a little gel were my sensitive sit bones go!

if all else fails.. i'll go dolce... i think we'll make a trip to the bike store this weekend and see if they have an avatar for me to try out!

(hubby has an avatar on his tricross.. but it's too narrow for me... i was trying to feel the difference... but there isn't much! however he had an alias (men's version of the jett) and hated it.. he loves his avatar.. so there may be something to it! plus it looks nicer than the dolce!

[Selkie]

Caligirl--I took my Dolce saddles off both my Elite and Comp (they are 2005 models). I know I still have the Comp and I think have the Elite saddle somewhere. Would you like either or both of them? They weren't used much. I live on the East Coast, but I can mail them out to you. Let me know.

[caligurl]

awwww that's sweet of you! how much would you want for them? (i could use one to replace the very ripped one on my dolce. too! i kept meaning to replace it.. and it ripped more and more! but then i knew i was getting a new bike and didn't worry about it... bad bike mommy!)

[BikerJeanne]

Did you ever decide on a saddle? I have the same problem. I have a 2007 S-Works Ruby which is an upgrade to my 2005 Specialized Dolce Elite. I had the Dolce saddle and I loved it but it is big and ugly. My new bike came with the Specialized Jett Saddle. I like the saddle but it is too hard for distance rides like I do. I tried a Terry Butterfly Ti and it is not working for me either. Has anyone tried the Specialized Lithia Gel? Help? This saddle mess is killing me!!!!

[KnottedYet]

How does the Dolce saddle treat you on long rides?

Even though you think it is big and ugly looking, if it feels good maybe you should use it as your benchmark saddle?

[Lakerider]

I recently changed to an "Easy Seat" and I love it. It has 2 parts and is open in the middle so there is absolutely no pressure on sensitive areas.